Luque goal gives struggling Magpies vital victory in Italy

NEWCASTLE claimed a fine 1-0 win in Palermo to move to within touching distance of a place in the third round of the UEFA Cup.

Albert Luque’s 37th-minute header capped an impressive first half from the Magpies.

As Palermo pushed for an equaliser in the second half, debutant goalkeeper Tim Krul kept Glenn Roeder’s side in the game with several match-winning saves.

Palermo simply could not find a way past the Dutch giant and the handful of Newcastle fans were able to celebrate with calls of ‘we are top of the league’ at the final whistle.

Luque earned a rare start in attack with Glenn Roeder having little option but to thrust the Spanish striker in to the fray due to injuries and the unavailability of Giuseppe Rossi.

Roeder had said it was up to Luque to prove he deserved a regular place in his side – however it was James Milner who looked the more motivated.

Shifting from the left-wing into a support role up front, the 20-year-old created the biggest threat for the Magpies.

Having first tested Alberto Fontana from just inside the area, his trickery allowed him to turn Andrea Barzagli inside the six-yard to make room for another shot, but he appeared to be impeded unfairly by the Palermo defender.

His shot was too weak to test Fontana while his stronger claims for a penalty fell on deaf ears.

As the visitors began to push forwards again, Milner provided the opportunity for Luque to open his account for the season, and he did not disappoint.

With Barzagli and Hernan Dellafiore both standing like statues in the middle, Luque stole in between the pair to head in Milner’s left-wing cross and give Newcastle a lead they perhaps merited on the balance of play.

The goal was only the second Palermo had conceded at the Renzo Barbera in seven European games, the first since September 9 last year.

Palermo were keen not to lose their unbeaten home European record, though, and camped in the Newcastle half for the second half.

It was backs-to-the-wall stuff for Roeder’s men, but just as the Newcastle manager had predicted on Wednesday, it was time for one of his youngsters to make a name for himself.

After a good hour’s play, Krul had certainly settled down and began to repay Roeder’s faith with a string of good saves.

PALERMO: Fontana, Dellafiore, Cassani, Barzagli (Biava 46), Pisano, Tedesco (di Michele 66), Guana (Simplicio 66), Parravicini, Munari, Brienza, Caracciolo.

NEWCASTLE: Krul, Ramage, Moore, Bramble, Taylor, Solano (Carroll 93), Emre, N’Zogbia (Sibierski 68), Milner, Butt, Luque (Pattison 77).

Referee: Jaroslav Jara (Czech Republic)

Rangers 2 Maccabi Haifa 0

Rangers took themselves to within touching distance of the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup with a win over Maccabi Haifa at Ibrox.

Nacho Novo opened the scoring after just five minutes before Charlie Adam sealed the win from the penalty spot with a minute to go.

The Gers may be threatening to self-destruct in the Bank of Scotland Premier League, falling 12 points adrift of leaders Celtic. But maximum points from Group A matches against Livorno and Maccabi mean they now have a great chance of progressing in Europe.